Plaiting attachment for sewing-machines



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.,

J. G. GREENE. PLAITING ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING MACHINES.

No. 480,260. Patented Aug. 9, 1892.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. G. GREENE. PLAITING ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING MACHINES. No. 480,260. Patented Aug. 9, 1892.

Vllllllllllll liyll l wvcmwow UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES G. GREENE, OF ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGN OR TO THE SINGER MANUFACTURING COMPANY OF NEIV JERSEY.

PLAITING ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING-MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 480,260, dated August 9, 1892.

Application filed April 18, 1892. Serial No. 429,616. (No model.)

T to whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES G. GREENE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Elizaboth, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Plaiting Attachments for Sewing-Machines, of which the followingis a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

I0 My invention relates to that class of sewing-machine attachments adapted to form folds or plaits in fabrics and to guide the same to the stitch-forming mechanisms of sewingmachines; and it has for its object to provide a simple and convenient attachment of the class referred to whereby two reversely-laid folds or plaitsmaybe simultaneously produced in a piece of goods and may be held and guided to a two-needle sewing-machine,which will thus simultaneously stitch both folds or plaits.

In carrying my invention into effect I provide,in connection with a stationary guide or folder arranged centrally in front of the nee- 2 5 dies of the machine and having a top plate or part forming two overhanging guiding portions or edges, two swinging plait-forming blades or knives arranged to enter beneath the overhanging portions or edges of the sta- 0 tionary guide, and thus in connection therewith to form two reversely-laid plaits or folds, which are properly held and guided to the needles of the sewing-machine. The swinging plaiting blades or knives are carried by pivoted arms, whiehare preferably so connected together that the movement of one into or out of working position will cause a the positions shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is atop View of the stop which holds the plaiting- 5o blades out of working position, one of the plaiting-bladecarrying arms being shown in cross-section. Fig. 6 is a plan view of a modi fied form of my invention with the parts in working position, and Fig. '7 is a similar view with the plaiting-blades swung aside for the insertion of the work. Fig. 8 illustrates this form of my invention as seen from the front end of the head of the machine; and Fig. 9

is a view, looking from the front side of the sewing-machine, of the plaiting-blades in the positions shown in Fig. 6. Fig. 10 illustrates the work to be made by my device.

A denotesaportion of the arm of a sewingmachine, and B a part of the work -plate thereof.

Referring now more particularly to the preferred form of my invention, (shown in Sheet 1 of the drawings,) a denotes a plate or small bracket secured to the lower part of the depending portion or head A of the arm A, and to the said plate or bracket are pivoted at their upper ends two arms or levers C, carrying at their lower ends the swinging plaitingblades 0. The arms 0 are preferably connected together by intermeshing teeth d, formed thereon adjacent to their pivots, and by aspring e, which has a tendency to force them together.

To limit the inward movements of the arms 8 C under the stress of the spring 6, so as to hold the plaitingblades in proper working position, I preferably provide a stop device consisting, as herein shown, of a bar or projection f, interposed between the said arms 0 and engaged by projections thereon consisting, preferably, of adjustable screws 9, arranged to abut against said bar or projection To hold the plaiting-blades out of working 0 position, as shown in Fig. 2, when the work is to be inserted, I provide a retaining-arm I-I, suspended from the head A and having a shoulder at h, which engages one of the arms C, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5, and thus holds said arm outward until it is released from said shoulder, which is done either by pressing the arm I'l inward (said arm being preferably a springarm or being spring-supported, as by the spring-hanger k or by springing the arm C outward away from the retaining arm. When the arm 0 is swung outward, it rides up a slight inclineat It on the arm H until it comes opposite the shoulder h,when it springs into engagement with said shoulder. The needle-bar I carries two needles 1', and the presser-foot J is provided with two holes for the passage of said needles, and arranged centrally in front of said needles is the stationary guide K, which co-operatcs with the plaiting-blades c. The said guide K is preferably attached to the work-plate B, and, as herein shown, said guide consists of a small block having vertical guiding-faces on its opposite sides, said block being surmounted by a plate k, which overhangs the same on both sides to form projections, beneath which the plaitingblades extend in making the reversely-laid folds or plaits. The width of the plate 7c will determine the distance between the plaits or folds m, Fig. 10, being made, and for varying the work interchangeable plates of different widths willbe provided. The plaiting-blades, as also the plate or top plate or portion of the guide K, are preferably formed with rounded or bluntly-pointed forward ends to assist in the formation of the folds or plaits in the work as thelatter is guided forward to the needles.

In the form of my invention shown in Figs. 6, 7, 8, and 9 of the drawings the plaitingblades 0 are carried by horizontal arms C, secured by vertical pivot-screws to a bracket a, attached to the head A, and which is shown as being provided with a steadying portion or sleeve a surrounding the presserbar J. The arms C are shown as being provided with intermeshing teeth (2, as in the preferred form of my invention, and are connected by a coil-spring e, which draws them together until their inward movements are limited by stops f, arranged in front of their pivots. \Vhen the said arms C are thrown outward a little farther than shown in Fig.7, the spring 6 will be slightly rearward of the centers of the pivots of said arms and will then hold said arms separated, the outward movements of said arms being limited by the stops f rearward of the arms, which stops will then be in contact with each other.

In the use of my attachment the plaitingblades are swung outward, as shown in Figs. 2 and 7, and a piece of fabric to have the reversely-laid plaits formed therein is then laid upon the stationary guide K and the plaitingblades are swung inward, thus forcing, portions of the fabric beneath the overhanging edges of said guide and forming two reverselylaid plaits or folds. The work is then drawn forward beneath the needles, and, the presserfoot being lowered, the machine is started,

when the work will be drawn forward by the feed of the machine and the reversely-laid plaits or folds of any desired length will be formed and stitched, as will be understood.

My device is particularly adapted for use in forming the central plaits of shirt-bosoms, but may be employed for any other kinds of work in which it is desired to simultaneously fold and stitch two reversely-arranged plaits.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In a plaiting attachment for sewing-machines, the combination, with a stationary guide arranged centrally in front of the needles and having vertical guiding-faces on its opposite sides and overhanging edges projecting laterally from the sides of said guide beyond said vertical guiding-faces, of two swinging plaiting-blades placed on opposite sides of said guide and normally extending beneath said overhanging edges and pivoted arms by which said blades are carried.

2. In a plaiting attachment for sewing-machines, the combination, with a central guide having overhanging edges, of two swinging 9o plaiting-blades and two connected pivoted arms by which said blades are carried, said arms having intermeshing portions, so that a movement of one will cause a simultaneous movement of the other.

3. In a plaiting attachment for sewing-machines, the combination, with a stationary guide arranged centrally in front of the needles and having overhanging edges, of two swinging plaiting-blades on opposite sides of too said guide and normally extending beneath said overhanging edges, pivoted arms by which said blades are carried, a spring for forcing said arms toward each other, and a stop device for limiting their inward move- :05 ments.

4. In a plaiting attachment for sewing-machines, the combination, with acentral guide having overhanging edges, of two swinging plaiting-blades arranged to enter beneath said I to overhanging edges, two pivote'd arms by which said blades are carried, a spring for forcing said arms toward each other, and adjustable stops for limiting their inward movements and for determining the positions of [15 the plaiting-blades relative to the overhang ing edges of the said guides.

5. In a plaiting attachment for sewing-machines, the combination, with a stationary guide arranged centrally in front of the nee- [2O dles and having vertical guiding-faces on its opposite sides and overhanging edges projecting laterally from the sides of said guide beyond said vertical guiding-faces, of two connected swinging arms carrying plaitingr25 blades arranged on opposite sides of said guide and normally entering beneath said overhanging edges and a retaining device to hold said plaiting-blades separated when they are swung outward from said guide for the insertion 0f the work.

6. The combination, with the central guide K, having overhanging edges, of the pivoted arms 0, carrying the plaiting-blades 0, arranged to enter beneath said edges, said arms having the intermeshing teeth d and the stopscrews or projections g, the stop-bar or projection f, interposed between said arms, and I0 the spring 6, serving to force sald arms to- Ward each other.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two Witnesses. 

